Big Python Caught in Philippines

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 9, 30 August 1911, Page 59

Big Python Caught in Philippines

I was visiting the gaol at Thayet-Myo. A python twenty-two feet long and about twenty-eight inches in girth was lying dead in a cabbage patch of the gaol garden. It had been shot by the prison guard under the following circumstances:—The prison had a sentry posted on the roof at each corner of the square building. His duty was to give the alarm to the prison guard if -any prisoner tried to escape or any unusual occurrence took place. On the morning of my visit there had undoubtedly been an unusual occurrence. A python, dimensions as above, had entered the vegetable garden and crossed it. to the fowl pen. Besides the fowls there were some fine ducks in the pen. Now the front of the pen was fenced with diamond mesh galvanised wire netting of a strong type.

The .snake could not resist a fat duck, so putting its head and neck through the stout diamond frame it seized and swallowed one. I have no doubt \vha> ever that it Mould have “mopped up the •bunch” inside the house, but that in adjusting number one to make room for number two it became aware of an uneasy feeling owing to the wire around its waist. Being now unable either to disgorge or to get away it tore off the whole section of netting six by eight feet and returned with the necklace or waistband through the cabbages. Not unnaturally, 1 think, the sentry seeing a six by eight wire section of fencing marching through the ’cabbage patch without any visible means of support gave the alarm and then opened tire. The prison guard also rushed out and also opened fire, and very shortly our hero lay dead in his frame. He was skinned and his skin cured and dressed in the gaol, where they are noted for this kind of work. Forest and Stream.